Pneumatic suspension device for vehicles



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,890

E. J. LAUGAUDIN PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed June '1, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 ug.a 14, 1928.

E. J. LAUGAUDlN PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E Filed June '7, 1925 in aeroplanes.

VPatented Aug. 14, 1928.

vLawine g PATENT OFFICE. l

EUGENE .runas LaUcAtmnv, or mais,

rimuimrrc sUsPENsToN DEVICE FOB VEHIFCLES.

Application led June 7, 1926, Serial/No. 114,277, and iii France` J'uxie 13, 192.5.

The present invention relates to a pneu-- matic suspension device adapted for use with and to some kextent replace the springs and other devices at present in use.

The device according tothe invention is applicable tovehicles of all types and in l particular to tramways, motorcycles, automobiles, railway carriages; it may also be .employed for the-landing device and skid The said suspension' device which makes use of the elasticity of gases isillustrated by way `of example in the accompanying drawings, in' which:

Figure l shows the suspension device in "longitudinal section. l

` Figure 2 is a cross section about halfway` lalong the cylinder in Figure 1 showing the attachment upon the chassis of a vehicle.

,Figure 3 shows a modification and lFigure 4 its attachment to the chassis.

Figure 5 is another modified form of conr struction in longitudinal section and in cross section. Figure 6 shows-a method of mounting the cylinder for certain applications.

Figure. 7 Vshows a modified form of-construct-ion. i

Figure 8 Shows the device employed as a 3 shock absorber.

As shown in x-the drawings in Figure 1 the said suspension device is composed essentially of a cylinder or pump body 1 open at both ends; one opening being closed by y a plug 2 producing a fluidtight ioint. The

said plug may be screwed or fitted upon the cylinder. inLany suitable manner.

Upon this plug is disposed a valve 3 after Athe nature of atire valve. permit-ting air or any othery gas to be compressed in the interior ofthe cylinder. I ,J This gas maybe compressed in such a Vway as th'ave a suitable pressure. (2, 3

kilogrammes or more).

In the, interior .ofthe cylinder 1 is intarposeda loose piston 4 and infront of the latter a piston 5 terminating in a rod 6 passing through the breechv or opening of the cylinder. These pistons are preferably given the form shown in the drawings so that they are adapted 4to slide and telescope ot e within the other. y

AThe space comprised between the two pistons 4 and 5 is filled with a liquidy producing fluid tightness (oil, glycerine or the like) and when vthere any loss of this liquid in said space there is a'relative displacement of the piston 4 within piston 5. The said cylinder; thus forms a sort of bottle olflask which is removable and interchange- .a e.

The cylinder 1 is provided with an extenon 10 in the form of a swan neck.

The piston rod 6 is a link 11 to a right angled lever 12 pivotally mounted at its apex at 13 upon -a vpin 14 mounted upon the end of the swan neck The other branch o lever .forming a ball and socket or universal Joint is mounted in a bearing 15 keyed upon the axle upon which the wheel ofy the vehicle is mounted.

The operation of the apparatus will be c-,lear from a simple study of the drawings.

The .dlsplacement of the angle lever I2 transmits the shocks received bythe wheel or axle to the piston 5 through the medium of the link 11; the piston, in moving in the cylinder l'increases the compression of the `gas contained in this cylinder; and as soon as the 'shock which -has given rise to the compression has been absorbed the gas expands and pushes th end of the cylinder.

The angle lever transmits lthe shocks to the piston much more powerfullyY as the axle is moved further away from the pivotal point of connection 14; this arrangement enabling` concurrently with the initial pressure of the gas inthe cylinder, the suspension device to be adjusted according f `the right angled to the weight of the vehicleorthe bad stateof the road.

It will therefore be understood that as the cylinder 1 is removable and interchangel r connected by means of e piston towards the able together with its two pist-ons and its closingf plug, the bottle'thus formed may be easily replaced on the roadby another spare one in the case :for example when the pres-v sure in one has become insufficient and it is not desired to increase it with the aid of a pump, or else in the event of more serious damage, wear or leakage. This constitutes a' very important feat-ure of the invention.

Figure 2 shows the method of attaching the bottle along thev chassis 8 of the vehicle.

`In the modification shown in Figure 3 the bottle is laced in a cylinder 7 .fixed horizontally albng and beneath the chassis 8 of the vehicle4 by means of straps or any other suitable means. In this case the swan another method of mounting the bottle is shown; in this modification the axle can only move in a vertical plane.

For this purpose the bottle 1 is provided 'with a collar suitably attached or simply lugs 18 secured to the said bottle; the rod 6 of the piston 5 is connected to two lever arms 19 and 20 pivotally mounted on the one hand upon the endof the rod 6 at 21 and on the other hand, for the lever '9, at a fixed point 22, and for the lever 20Aat 23 to a bearing 24 movably disposed upon the axle 25 moving in a stirrup forming a sl-idewa)7 secured to the chassis 8; further, rods 27, 28 connect the lugs 18 to the pivotal points 22 and 23.

It will be understood that when the axle receives a shock the system formed by, 19, 20, 2-7 and 28 is deformed pushing back the whole of the piston 5 and 4, but the axle makes no other movement except in a vertical direction. p

Figure 7 shows a modified constructional form of 'the bottle. The two original pistons 4 andY 5 are replaced lby groups of two pistons 41-42 and 51--52 as shown in the drawings; between each of these two groups is arranged athird piston 43--53 engaging in the two pistons and provided with a circular rib having the internal diameter of the bottle; a bolt 44 forms the connection between the -three parts 41, 42 and 43.

The `space comprised between the rib and the extreme edge of the pistons is filled with a suitable material in order to produce perfect fluid-tightness and to obviate as much as possible the necessity for employing any joints or packing rings.

A similar device is provided for the group of pistons '51-52-53 but the rod 6 is pierced so as to allow the shank of the bolt 54 to pass; a nut 55 enables the connection between the parts 51, 52 and 53 to be obtained and the spacing apart of the istons 51 and 52 in order to produce a goo fluid tight joint to be adjusted from outside the bottle.

In the example shown in Figure 8 the\sus ension device ,is adapted to serve in conjunction with suspension springs; it is arranged vertically between the leaves of a double spring or in the case of a single spring between the latter-and the chassis, and so on. Y

For railways and tramways the elastic energy may be suppliedb the Aboiler or the compressed air of the bra e.

The various cylinders of one and the same vehicle may naturally besupplied from one and the same reservoir, a suitable pipe system with cocks and a manometer enabling the pressure in the bottle to be increased or reduced according to the load carried.

Finally, this suspension by means of a removable and interchangeable bottle or fiask may also be employed for the suspension of the forks of motorcycles.

What I claim is: f

1. A pneumatic suspension device for vehicles, including aircraft comprising a removable and interchangeable cylinder or bottle, supporting means for same, a pump valve fitted to the cylinder enabling the device to work with gas under pressure, a piston rod and means for transmitting to the piston rod displacements of the vehicle wheels caused by road irregularities and the like in combination with a loose piston in said cylinder, a second piston in front of the loosefpiston and connected to the piston rod, and an oily fiuid substance in the space between the two pistons vforming a gas tight joint.

2. A pneumatic suspension device as claimed in claim 1. in which themeans for transmitting 'the displacement of the wheels to the wpiston rod comprises a bell-crank lever, connecting means between one arm thereof and the piston rod and a universal joilnt between the other arm and the wheel ax e. v

-3. A "pneumatic suspension device as claimed in claim 1, in which the two istons ,are adapted to telescope one within the other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EUGENE JULES LAUGAUDIN.- 

